Side by side
zig64 vs Zinc64
Both stand on commodore 64 emulators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan
zig64 provides a focused C64 emulation core with timing, debugging, and SID analysis tools. Its documented scope is analysis and development rather than video output.
Visit zig64 Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
Pick Zinc64 if you want a free, extensible Commodore 64 emulator toolkit with debugger access and Rust-based components. Look elsewhere if you need D64 or T64 support, floppy or mouse emulation, or a finished OpenGL client and Raspberry Pi 3 port.
Visit Zinc64The facts
| zig64 | Zinc64 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Not published | Linux, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Not published |
| Plans published | None | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | github.com |
| On commodore 64 emulators | #26 of 31 | #22 of 31 |
zig64: what it does well
- Cycle-accurate MOS 6502/6510 instruction timing
- Models PAL and NTSC timing
- Loads .prg files directly into memory
- Includes CPU traces, state inspection, and SID logs
- MIT License permits modification and distribution
What to know first
- Does not generate video output
- MIT License provides the software without warranty
Zinc64: what it does well
- Free plan with Linux and Windows support
- Standalone emulator and reusable library
- Models major C64 chips and peripherals
- Replaceable components through custom ChipFactory
- Telnet debugger and radare2 RAP support
What to know first
- D64 and T64 formats are not started
- Floppy and mouse support are not started
- OpenGL client and Raspberry Pi 3 port are in progress
- Windows setup requires Visual C++ Build Tools 2017